The Health Exchange

Episode 80 of The Health Exchange Podcast takes a look at the Mobile Stroke Unit with Dr. May Nour, a vascular and interventional neurologist and Medical Director of the UCLA Health Mobile Stroke Rescue Program. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Nour discuss what happens inside the brain during a stroke, why every minute can mean the loss of millions of brain cells, and how recognizing symptoms quickly can dram...

Episode 79 of The Health Exchange Podcast shines a light on bronchiectasis through the powerful story of patient Christy Marlin, whose symptoms went undiagnosed for decades despite years of recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, and chronic cough. Dr. Rutland and Christy discuss why this often-overlooked lung disease is so frequently missed, how delayed diagnosis can lead to irreversible airway damage,...

Episode 78 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science, history, and misconceptions surrounding Botox with guest Nicola Lowrey, an aesthetic medicine expert. She and Dr. Rutland discuss how one of the world’s most potent toxins evolved into a widely used medical treatment, breaking down the neurobiology behind Botox and the many conditions it can help address beyond cosmetic wrinkles. The...

Episode 77 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores one of the most universal yet least understood parts of life: death. Dr. Jamie Rutland sits down with hospice nurse and educator Julie McFadden to discuss what hospice care really is, what dying actually looks like, and why end-of-life conversations are often delayed until it's too late. Drawing from years of experience in both intensive care and...

Episode 76 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science, misconceptions, and real-world applications of hypnotherapy with guest Dr. Nancy Irwin, Clinical Psychologist & Certified Hypnotherapist. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about the connection between the mind and body, how beliefs and thought patterns can influence behavior, and why hypnosis is far different from the stage performances...

Episode 75 of The Health Exchange Podcast tackles the growing youth vaping epidemic with guest Dr. Lori Livingston, a pediatrician who sees firsthand how nicotine addiction is affecting children and teenagers. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Livingston explore why vaping has become so appealing to young people, from flavored products and social influences to the misconceptions that vaping is a safer alternati...

Episode 74 of The Health Exchange Podcast follows the story of Brittany Quiroz, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after years of symptoms that never fully made sense. Brittany speaks candidly about how the disease changed the way she moves through everyday life and how it forced her to slow down, rethink her priorities, and become more intentional with her time and energy. Dr. Rutland expl...

Episode 73 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science and real-world impact of allergies, asthma, and type two inflammation with guest Payel Gupta, a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, pediatrics, and allergy immunology. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Gupta break down how the immune system can mistakenly overreact to everyday triggers like pollen, pollution, foods, and pet dander...

Episode 72 of The Health Exchange Podcast dives into the rapidly growing world of peptides, longevity medicine, and personalized healthcare with guest Ashley Madsen, a physician associate specializing in regenerative and sexual health medicine. Ashley and Dr. Rutland explore why so many patients are turning to peptides in search of solutions for weight loss, inflammation, fatigue, and recovery, wh...

Episode 71 of The Health Exchange Podcast shares the powerful journey of asthma advocate Dennisse Reyes, who opens up about living with severe, uncontrolled asthma since the age of 19 and how it dramatically limited her ability to live freely. Dr. Rutland and Dennisse explore the realities of asthma as more than a “manageable” condition, diving into how misdiagnosis, lack of early education, and i...

Episode 70 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the rapidly evolving and often controversial world of psychedelic medicine with neurologist Dr. Philip O'Carroll and pain management specialist Dr. Richard Paicius. Dr. Rutland leads a wide-ranging conversation on how compounds like psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and ketamine are reshaping our understanding of mental health, particularly for treatment-res...

Episode 69 of The Health Exchange Podcast takes a deep dive into bronchiectasis with Dr. Doreen J. Addrizzo-Harris, a leading pulmonary and critical care physician, uncovering why this often-overlooked lung disease is frequently misdiagnosed as asthma, COPD, or recurrent pneumonia. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Addrizzo-Harris explore how delayed diagnosis allows structural lung damage and chronic inflammat...

Episode 68 of The Health Exchange Podcast features Tim Cason, who shares his extraordinary survival story after suffering a sudden, massive heart attack that led to multiple cardiac arrests and weeks on life support. Despite having no clear warning signs, Tim’s condition escalated rapidly, highlighting how unpredictable and silent cardiovascular events can be. Dr. Rutland and Tim walk through earl...

Episode 67 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the shift in HIV from an uncertain and often devastating diagnosis to one that can be managed over time with guest Dr. Jon Persichino, an infectious disease specialist. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Persichino break down the science of how HIV affects the immune system, why it remains incurable despite effective treatments, and what “undetectable equals unt...

Episode 66 of The Health Exchange Podcast tells the powerful and eye-opening story of ovarian cancer survivor Megan Yoo Schneider, who joins Dr. Rutland to unpack how a life-threatening diagnosis can hide behind vague symptoms. Megan shares her journey from months of unexplained fatigue, bloating, and digestive issues to discovering a massive tumor that many providers initially misdiagnosed. The c...

Episode 65 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science, safety, and evolving technology behind vision correction with guest Dr. Neda Shamie, a leading ophthalmologist specializing in LASIK, cataract, and corneal surgery. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Shamie break down how the eye functions like a highly sophisticated optical system, explaining how conditions like nearsightedness, astigmatism, and ke...

Episode 64 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the often overlooked reality of kidney disease with guest Dr. Michelle Estrella, a nephrologist and leader in kidney health research. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Estrella break down how the kidneys function far beyond simply filtering toxins, highlighting their role in regulating blood pressure, electrolytes, and overall balance in the body. They also dis...

Episode 63 of The Health Exchange Podcast examines endometriosis with guest Dr. Mallory Stuparich, a gynecologist and endometriosis specialist who diagnoses and treats the condition. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Stuparich discuss what endometriosis actually is—an inflammatory disease where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus—and why it so often goes undiagnosed for years. The conv...

Episode 62 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores testosterone, hormone optimization, and the evolving field of longevity medicine with guest Christopher Asandra, MD, a physician specializing in anti-aging. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Asandra unpack how testosterone functions at the cellular level, why symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, low libido, and mood shifts matter more than a single lab number, and...

Episode 61 of The Health Exchange Podcast tells the powerful story of Kahley Schiller, founder of Pilates by Kahley, who at 39 years old was given just 90 days to live after being diagnosed with acute liver failure caused by autoimmune hepatitis. What began as subtle fatigue and nausea quickly escalated to jaundice, an ICU admission, and the realization that a liver transplant was her only chance...

Episode 60 of The Health Exchange Podcast dives into the overlooked and often misunderstood world of women’s pelvic health with guest Dr. Maria Uloko, a urologist and pelvic health expert. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Uloko explore why conditions like pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, recurrent UTIs, and hormonally mediated vestibular pain are frequently misdiagnosed or underrecognized. They...

Episode 59 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the demanding and deeply human world of pediatric neurosurgery with guest Tony Adkins, PA-C, who works on the front lines helping children and families navigate some of the most overwhelming diagnoses imaginable. Dr. Rutland and Tony discuss what pediatric neurosurgery really looks like day to day—from emergency calls and operating room care to th...

Episode 58 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the powerful connection between oral health, overall wellness, and personal confidence with guest Dr. Bill Dorfman, a leading cosmetic dentist. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Dorfman discuss how the mouth often serves as an early window into systemic health, touching on inflammation, cardiovascular risk, immune function, and chronic disease. The conversation...

Episode 57 of The Health Exchange Podcast goes inside the fast-paced, high-stakes world of the emergency department with guest Dr. Italo Brown, an emergency medicine physician. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Brown explore what it really takes to navigate the chaos of trauma, critical care, and high-acuity patients, while balancing technical skill, rapid decision-making, and deep compassion. They discuss the...

Episode 56 of The Health Exchange Podcast examines how autoimmune disease care is evolving when advanced medicine is paired with lifestyle-based intervention. Host Dr. Rutland speaks with Drs. Melissa Mondala and Micah Yu, a married physician team who combine rheumatology, lifestyle, and integrative medicine in their practice. They share their personal journeys—Micah’s own autoimmune diagnosis and...